PARENTS are incentivising their children to hit their A-Level targets with promises of cash, holidays, cars and laptops, researchers in Leeds have found.

Amounts range from a modest fiver to a substantial £17,000, according to the study by Leeds Beckett University, published on the eve of results day.

But the number of students being offered incentives has halved since last year 2014, with around a third now in line for a windfall.

A* to B grades are most likely to be incentivised, with an average of £100 for each A grade and £50 for a B or C.

Professor Paul Smith, deputy vice chancellor at Leeds Beckett, said: “Whatever situation students find themselves in after getting their results, they are facing important decisions on their future. It’s important that they don’t panic as there are plenty of options open to them.”

Girls are being offered an average of £132 more than boys this year - a change from last year where males benefited by £60 more than their female counterparts. Londoners are the most likely to be offered incentives (46 %), while Yorkshire students are the least likely at 19%.

The top five incentives offered this year are:

1. Money (21.4%)

2. Meal (5.8%)

3. Laptop (5.4%)

4. Holiday (5%)

5. Car (4%)

The survey also discovered that nearly 80% of students admitted to being distracted by social media during revising for their exams this year, and that more than half of A-level students will tell their mothers about their results before facing their fathers.